FISHING THE SEA OF CORTEZ MIDRIFF ISLANDS OUT OF
LARRY AND RAQUEL'S HOTEL AT BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES

June 29, 2005, Bill Warr, Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico:

My big brother Dave Bambauer and I just returned from the Bahia de los Angeles archipelago where we had sought to slay as many jurel as we legally could over five short days.

As we made our mad dash toward the border we discovered we had an uninvited guest with us...Sr. FULL MOON. We tried throwing the rude bastard out, but he followed us all the way. It seems to me that some enterprising person could come up with a schedule or chart or something that would show when that old full moon is going to be around. They could probably make a fortune!

Anyway, we had made arrangements at "Larry and Raquel's Hotel & Restaurant" which is located a couple paved miles north of Bahia de los Angeles. They have a marginal launch ramp, which is to say the least, but, believe me, I've seen and used far worse. Tide swings are fairly severe so that needs to be considered, especially during a full moon. Hey! maybe someone could come up with a chart thingy for tides too!

The rooms at "Larry and Raquel's" are spacious and clean. Ricardo and the rest of the hotel staff are extremely warm and friendly in the traditional Baja/Mexican way. I had to literally force Ricardo to take a tip even after he had taken his own car into town for a boat trailer part which had broken on our trailer!

When we met Larry and Raquel they immediately treated us like we were well known friends and regulars. Larry has an easy, weathered smile that goes along with his memories of old and new Baja. Raquel is the consummate hostess and gourmet chef in every sense of the word. She has that nurturing, ladylike way about her and can still take a joke, even if its a bit off color (not that I'm prone to this type of joke or anything.). Both Dave and I had a great time the whole time we were there. I believe Larry and Raquel have a website that can be easily found.

The Bahia de los Angeles (L.A. Bay) weather and wind cooperated and we even had good fishing and diving.

Occasionally the wind came up to about 20 to 25 knots inside the bay but that was rare. We fished and dived most of the islands for Yellowtail to 15 pounds and Grouper from 10 to 60 pounds.

The fishing water at Bahia de los Angeles was around 73 degrees in the bay with the visibility from 10 to 25 feet depending on location and current.

We ran down to the south end of Isla Angel de la Guarda for the same conditions, then down to Punta las Animas over glassy, 75 to 80 degree water. The farthest south we ran was to Isla Raza which is a bird sanctuary for Boobies (yes, I said Boobies) and Terns.

The San Felipe panga mothership "Celia Angelina" was anchored there at the time but overall the fishing was slow.